NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 15, 2016) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District is enlisting the support of volunteers at its lakes on the Cumberland River and its tributaries in support of the 23rd Annual National Public Lands Day Sept. 24.
The national theme for this year’s event is “Celebrate Something We All Share: Our Public Lands.” It is the largest volunteer hands-on restoration activity of its kind where people do clean up, repair, construction and refurbishment in public parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and cultural and historic sites.
Visitors at USACE sites take part in tree planting, erosion control, bank stabilization, building trails, restoring recreation areas, trash pickup, removing invasive species and non-native plants, improving wildlife habitats and rehabilitating playgrounds.
Within the Nashville District the public is encouraged to participate at one of the following NPLD volunteer activities on the dates and times indicated:
Center Hill Lake: Volunteers and students from local high schools will meet at Ragland Bottom Recreation Area 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27. Planned activities this year include trail work and clearing of invasive plant species in the recreation area. Volunteers are meeting at the shelter located in the park’s day use area. All equipment to do the work is being provided. To sign up or for more information call the Natural Resource Manager’s Office at (931)-858-3125. Follow Center Hill Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/centerhilllake.
Cheatham Lake: Cheatham Lake is partnering with the Cheatham County Master Gardeners and Cheatham County Schools to hold their National Public Lands Day 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. All participants are meeting at the Resource Manager’s Office to begin work projects. The public and service groups are invited to join in and participate.
Projects for this year’s event include creating and installing a pollinator garden, installing bluebird boxes, trail maintenance and a litter pickup up throughout Lock A Recreation Area. A night of free camping is begin offered for all participants. Tools and equipment for work projects will be provided along with refreshments. To sign up for camping or for more information contact call the Natural Resource Manager’s Office at (615) 792-5697. Follow Cheatham Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/cheathamlake.
Cordell Hull Lake: Various service projects are planned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 at Defeated Creek Park. Projects this year include trail work, replacement of benches, shoreline clean-up, and parking lot re-striping. Volunteers are asked to meet at the shelter located in the park’s free day use area. Each volunteer and/or group will be asked to sign in, and a free day-use pass will be issued upon completion of the event. Volunteers will be provided with all the tools and equipment to complete the projects, and lunch will be provided. To sign up or for more information call the Natural Resource Manager’s Office at (615) 735-1034. Follow Cordell Hull Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/cordellhulllake.
Dale Hollow Lake: Volunteers are needed for National Public Lands Day. The shoreline cleanup is 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The check-in station is Lillydale Campground at Dale Hollow Lake. Advance signups are not needed; just show up. Trash bags are provided upon arrival. This cleanup is sponsored by the Friends of Dale Hollow Lake. Volunteer efforts to help remove litter off of the lake’s 620 miles of shoreline and 25,000 surface acres of water is much appreciated. Follow Dale Hollow Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dalehollowlake.
J. Percy Priest Lake: A cleanup event was held Aug. 22. A total of 75 students and advisors came to the project to perform much needed trash and graffiti removal from the bluff area adjacent to Lincoya Bay. One group of students was transported by boat to the bluff area and cleaned the area of several hundred pounds of trash and debris. Another group worked to remove non-native species from around the project area and open up areas to promote increased visibility (and safety) and to beautify the area. The work performed greatly enhanced the aesthetics and visibility of public lands and eliminated unsightly and hazardous litter. Follow J. Percy Priest Lake on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jpercypriestlake.
Lake Barkley: Personnel and volunteers are planning projects for National Public Lands Day. Some of the planned projects are removing vegetation from the shoreline, placing rip-rap in eroded ditches and shoreline, repairing steps at the picnic shelter, and making improvements to campsites and the courtesy dock. Other projects planned are trail maintenance and shoreline clean up. Free camping is available for participants starting Friday, Sept. 30 through Sunday Oct. 2 until 3 p.m. Campsites are limited and will be reserved on a first come basis. Volunteers are meeting at Eureka Campground 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1. Activities end at 3 p.m. and lunch is provided. For additional information and to reserve a campsite, contact Park Ranger Rich Rice at (270) 362-4236. Eureka Campground address is, 1802 KY Highway 1271, Kuttawa, KY 42055. Follow Lake Barkley on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/lakebarkley.
Lake Cumberland: The 27th Annual Lake Cumberland Cleanup is (Saturday) Sept. 17 from 9 a.m. to Noon (Eastern Standard Time) and 9 a.m. to Noon (Central Standard Time) with an appreciation picnic at 1 p.m. The cleanup is held at locations all over the lake in an effort to remove trash, tires, appliances, and more from the shoreline. Gloves and garbage bags are furnished. Participants are asked to check-in the day of the event at one of the following locations. For EST participants, go to General Burnside Island State Park, Waitsboro Recreation Area or Conley Bottom Resort. For CST participants, go to the Lake Cumberland State Park launching ramp or Grider Hill Dock. For more information contact Park Ranger Judy Daulton at (606) 679-6337. Follow Lake Cumberland on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/lakecumberland.
Laurel River Lake: Volunteers and others (agency and organization personnel) gathered Saturday, April 9, 2015 to clean up Laurel Lake. Volunteers picked up and hauled in garbage during the event. Numerous tires were also collected by cleanup crews. The next annual Big Spring clean up is scheduled in April 2017. Follow Laurel River Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/laurelriverlake.
Martins Fork Lake: A shoreline cleanup and other activities are planned from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Volunteers are asked to check in at the Playground Picnic Shelter near the Lake Office. Volunteers are invited to enjoy a picnic cookout afterwards. Call (606) 573-7655 for more info or to preregister. Follow Martins Fork Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/martinsforklake.
Old Hickory Lake: Volunteers are needed from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 24 to restore and refurbish public lands. Work projects include trail maintenance and clean up at Shutes Branch Mountain Bike Trail as well as general maintenance and clean up at Station Camp Creek Access Area and Avondale Recreation Area. Volunteers should wear closed toed shoes, pants, and bring water. For more information, to register, and for directions to work locations, call Park Ranger Dylon Anderson at 615-822-4846 or 615-847-2395. Follow Old Hickory Lake on Facebook for the latest updates at http://www.facebook.com/oldhickorylake.
The Corps has been involved with National Public Lands Day since its inception in 1994 and has consistently been one of the event’s largest providers of sites and volunteers. As the nation’s leading federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation, USACE Headquarters manages 421 lakes and river projects in 43 states. With nearly 90 percent of these projects located within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, the Corps sites provide a wide range of safe, affordable outdoor recreation opportunities close to home.
To locate National Public Lands Day events near you, visit http://www.publiclandsday.org/. For more information on USACE recreation opportunities visit http://www.CorpsLakes.us and http://www.recreation.gov.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.